Donald Trump has intensified his push for the Save America Act, a voting restriction bill, threatening not to sign any legislation until Congress approves it. Speaking at a Republican event in Miami on Monday, the US president demanded that all voters show proof of citizenship to vote and called for a ban on mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military service, or travel. He claimed that if the bill passes, Democrats 'probably won’t win an election for 50 years and maybe longer.'
The Save America Act, a rebranded version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, has been circulating in Congress for over two years. It passed the House earlier this year but faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. Trump has urged Republican senators to lift the filibuster to advance the bill, and some, like Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, have suggested they would consider dropping out of their races if leaders agree to do so.
The bill includes provisions requiring documented proof of US citizenship (such as a passport or birth certificate) to register to vote, a voter ID requirement for casting a ballot, and a prohibition on states registering voters without such documentation. It also allows private parties to sue election officials if someone registers without proof of citizenship and imposes potential criminal penalties. Additionally, the bill directs states to share voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship verification.
Trump has also pushed for unrelated measures to be added to the bill, including a ban on transgender people participating in women's sports and gender-affirming surgeries for minors. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump 'added on some priorities' for the bill, stating, 'We are not gonna tolerate the mutilation of young children in this country. No men in women’s sports.'
Voting rights advocates warn that the Save America Act would disenfranchise millions of Americans. Only about half of US citizens have a valid passport, and other documents like birth certificates may not match current names, particularly for married women who changed their surnames. The bill has been criticized as a response to Trump's unsubstantiated claims that noncitizens are stealing elections, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections expected to be challenging for Republicans.
